Food handling apparatus



March 31, 1970 J, Yjs, CHAN 3,503,346

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1968 5 Sheeizs--Sheefl l Q/y 'EATTORNEYS March 1970 Filed May 3, 1968 J. Y. s. CHAN:

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 y |46 i |24 |80 f .OO |84 f58 vll 1// ZOO h4 v gl l'zz |'2o .12 L30 H2 /yz a O y "o ya o zoo "4L'ls INVENTOR John Y. S. Chan ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 J. Y. s. CHAN3,503,346

Foon HANDLING APPARATUS. y

Filed May s, 1968 .Y s sheets-sheet s /304 /lzo' L30@ L30 Jahn Y. s.chan .l /y BY MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,503,346 FOODHANDLING APPARATUS John Y. S. Chan, 10065 Elm Ave., Loma Linda, Calif.92354 Filed May 3, 1968, Ser. No. 726,321 Int. Cl. A47b 85/00 U.S. Cl.108-22 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of platformmeans for carrying plates are mounted for movement along a closed pathon a supporting trackway. A drive chain is selectively operated to movethe platform means in opposite directions. Each platform means includesa vertically movable portion, and elevating means is provided forraising and lowering such portions at predetermined positions along thetrackway so that plates supported by the platform means will clear oneanother.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatuswhich may for example be built into a dining table so as to act like alazy Susan arrangement whereby diners can selectively operate theapparatus so that desired plates of food and the like can Ibe moved intoposition adjacent diners seated at different positions around the table.It is of course also apparent that the arrangement of the presentinvention may also be used in any application wherein it is desired totransfer food from one place to another along a closed path.

In the past, when employing tables of substantially circularconstruction, a central so-called lazy Susan has often been employed foraccomplishing the purposes of the present invention. However, when anelongated table is provided, the centrally located lazy Susanarrangement is not suitable since it is not adapted to be convenient topersons seated at the ends of an elongated table.

Accordingly, when elongated dining tables are employed, an arrangementsuch as shown in U.S. Patent No. 519,630 may be utilized wherein discsare movable by a chain mechanism along a closed path for transportingtrays or plates from one place to another on the table. This type ofarrangement may be built into the table to present a neat and attractiveappearance.

A particular disadvantage of the arrangement such as shown in theaforementioned U.S. patent is the fact that the size of the trays whichcan be employed therewith is limited. Since the trays move along aclosed path, the trays moving at one side of the apparatus must ofnecessity pass adjacent to those moving in the opposite direction alongthe otherside of the apparatus. If the trays are of excessive size, theywill interfere with the movement of one another due to the fact thatthey are disposed in the same horizontal plane. Accordingly, anarrangement such as shown in this patent either is limited to theutilization of trays of a limited size, or the path of movement inopposite directions along opposite sides of the apparatus must be widelyspaced, thereby preventing the apparatus from being of a compact nature.

A further disadvantage of an arrangement such as shown in thisaforementioned U.S. patent is the fact that it is of a fixed length, anddoes not incorporate provision for lengthening the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a plurality of spacedplatform means are movable along a closed path defined by the supportmeans. Each of these platform means includes a Patented Mar. 31, 1970ICC vertically movable portion for supporting plates or trays, andelevating means is provided for raising and lowering these verticallymovable portions. Accordingly, as large plates or trays pass oneanother, they are disposed in dfferent horizontal planes so that theplates or trays will clear one another, thereby enabling the apparatusto be ver y compact.

The support means of the present invention is formed of a plurality ofinterconnected members so that the support means can readily be extendedby adding additional portions thereto, thereby facilitating longitudinaladjustment of the apparatus as desired.

The arrangement of the present invention can also be readily built intoa dining table, and the driving means can be remotely operated andcontrolled so as to move the platform means in opposite directions asdesired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a top view partly brokenaway of the apparatus according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2 2 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of one of the platform means of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view illustrating the engaging portions onthe platform means for engaging the flexible drive member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 5-5 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view illustrating a modified form of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are top schematic views illustrating various relativepositions of the platform means;

FIG. 1l is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a further modied formof the invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 12-12 of FIG. 11 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 13-13 of FIG.12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong line 14-14 of FIG. 13 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. l5 is a top perspective view partly broken away illustrating themanner of drivingly interconnecting the platform means lwith theflexible drive member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, the support means of the present inventionincludes a central portion comprising a pair of members 20 and 22, thesemembers being interconnected with one another as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5by a tongue portion 24 formed integral with portion 20 and fittingwithin a correspondingly shaped groove formed in body portion 22.

A rst side track portion 30 is hingedly interconnected with the centralbody portion by a pair of spaced hinges 32. Another adjacent side trackportion 34 is hingedly interconnected with the main support portion by apair of spaced hinges 36. At the opposite side of the apparatus, a sidetrack portion 38 is hingedly interconnected with the main supportportion by a pair of spaced hinges 40, and a side track portion 42 ishingedly interconnected with the main support portion by a pair ofspaced hinges 44.

A -frst generally semi-circular end track portion 50 is interconnectedwith an end of side track portion 34 by a tongue and grooveinterconnection 52, end track portion 50 also being interconnected withthe side track portion 38 by a tongue and groove interconnection 54.

An end track portion 56 is provided at the opposite end of the apparatusand is interconnected with the adjacent side track portion 42 by atongue and groove interconnection 58. End track portion 56 is alsointerconnected with side track portion 30 by a tongue and grooveconnection 60.

The adjacent side track portions 30 and 34 are interconnected by atongue and groove connection 64, and the adjacent side track portions 38and 42 are interconnected by a tongue and groove connection 66. The endtrack portions 50 and 56 may be readily removed when desired, and theside track portions pivoted upwardly for storage. If desired, additionalportions may -be interconnected with the main body portion, and furtherside track portions may be incorporated so as to lengthen the supportmeans when desired. As seen for example in FIG. 5, the various trackportions include lips such as 30 and 38 provided on side track portions30 and 38 respectively to retain the platform means hereinafterdescribed on the track means and to prevent lateral displacementoutwardly of the track means.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the drive means of the present inventionincludes a pair of conventional batteries 70 disposed within a cavity 72formed in support portion '22, this cavity being closed off by a cover74. The batteries are in engagement with conductive strips 78 and 80which are connected by suitable leads with an electric motor or the like82. This electric motor is in turn connected through suitable gearingindicated generally by 86 as seen in FIG. 2 with a shaft 90 having adrive pulley 92 connected therewith.

At the opposite end of the support means, an idler pulley 94 isrotatably journalled on a shaft 96, the pulley being freely movablewithin a slot 98 provided in support portion `20.

A exible drive member in the form of a chain indicated generally byreference numeral 100 is provided. This exible drive member as seen mostclearly in FIG. 4 includes a plurality of alternate elongated portions102 and enlarged portions 104, these portions being interconnected withone another in the manner of a key chain so as to provide a flexible yetstrong drive connection. This flexible drive member is trained over thedrive pulley 92 and the idler pulley 94, and is tightly disposed thereonso as to transmit drive from the drive pulley 92 to the platform meanshereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 1, four spaced platform means are indicated generally`by reference numerals 110, 112, 114 and 116, it being apparent that anysuitable number of platform means may be employed, the platform meansbeing substantially equally spaced from one another along the flexibledrive member 100.

Since all of these platform means are of identical construction,platform means 110 will be described in detail, the remaining platformmeans having been given the same reference numerals primed forcorresponding parts.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. and 6, platform means 110 includes a baseportion 120 having suitable glides 122 secured to the four cornersthereof and extending downwardly therefrom to support the platform meansfor ready movement along the associated track portions.

A pair of end walls 124 and 126 extend upwardly from opposite ends ofthe base member 120, and a pair of side walls 128 and 130 also extendupwardly from the base portion and connect the end walls.

The platform means includes a vertically movable portion 138 which isadapted to support a plate indicated by phantom line P thereon. A pairof ears 140 and 142 extend downwardly from the undersurface of member138. A rst pair of pivotal support portions 144 and 146 are pivotallysecured to ears 140 and 142 by pins 148 and 150l respectively.

A shaft 154 extends 4bet-Ween the lower ends of support portions 144 and146, and rollers 156 and 158 are secured to the outer end of shaft 154to provide anti-friction means.

A pair of ears 162 and 164 extend upwardly from the base member Y of theplatform means, and the lower ends of pivotal support portions 166 and168 are pivotally supported by these ears respectively. The intermediateportions of members 166 and 168l are pivotally connected with theintermediate portions of members 144 and 146 by a cross shaft 170.

A shaft 172 is connected between the upper ends of support portions 166and 168, and rollers 174 and 176 are rotatably mounted on shaft 172 toprovide anti-friction means at this portion of the apparatus.

A suitable power means for the elevating mechanism of the platform meansincludes a drive means indicated generally by reference numeral whichmay comprise an electric motor or the like, this drive means beinginterconnected With a drum 182 having a flexible wire or cord 184 woundtherearound and interconnected lwith shaft 154. It is apparent that whenlmember 184 is wound on drum 182 as indicated in FIG. 6, the pivotallyinterconnected support portions 144, 146 and 166, 168i will be pivotedinto the operative position illustrated to elevate the verticallymovable portion 138, the anti-friction rollers enabling this action tobe readily carried out. When the drum 182 is subsequently operated inthe opposite direction so as to unwind member 184, the verticallymovable portion 138 will drop downwardly under the inuence of gravity.

Referring now to FIG. 4, side wall 130 of the platform means is providedwith an engaging portion indicated generally by reference numeral forengaging the exible drive member previously described. This engagingportion includes a generally horizontally extending part 192 having anotch 194 formed therein for receiving one of the enlarged portions 104of the flexible drive member.

The engaging portion 190 also includes a pair of spaced dependingportions 196 adapted to fit on either side of one of the enlargedportions 104 of the flexible drive member and to fit over elongatedportions 102 at either side of an enlarged portion of the drive memberwhereby the platform means will be drivingly interconnected with theilexible drive member, and yet at the same time will be freelyvertically movable with respect thereto so that the elevating means isadapted to raise and lower the vertically movable portion of theplatform means at predetermined positions along the supporting trackway.

Referring again to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, a dining table is indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 200, the table having a support surface200 for a plurality of dishes indicated by phantom lines D. The foodhandling apparatus of the present invention may be suitably built intothe central portion of the table as indicated, and a plurality ofswitches 204 are disposed about the table at strategic locations andpositioned beneath the support surface 200. In the case where six dinersmay be seated at the table, with two diners at either side of the tableand a diner at either end of the table, the switches may be located asindicated so that one switch will be within reach of each of the diners.The switches are adapted to control the drive motor 82 previouslydescribed, and movements of the switch in opposite directions areadapted to drive the motor in opposite directions. A suitable electricalcircuit is connected between the switches and the drive motor forcontrolling the operation of the motor in a well known manner.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a modified form of theinvention is illustrated. Components 220, 246, 254, 258 and 284correspond respectively to the components 120, 146, 154, 158 and 184respectively previously described. In this form of the invention, a jackscrew 290 is driven by the drive mechanism 284, this jack screwextending through a correspondingly threaded collar 294 xed to the shaft254. It s apparent that rotation of the jack screw will positively causethe associated support portions to be pivoted so as to raise or lowerthe vertically movable member of the platform means as required.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the vertically movable members ofplatform means 110 and 112 are elevated, while the corresponding membersof platform means 114 and 116 are in their lowered position. At theposition shown in FIG. 1, suitable control means is provided so that theflexible drive member is stopped and the vertically movable members ofplatform means 110 and 112 are lowered, and the vertically movablemember of platform means 114 is raised. After these members have reachedthe desired positions, the driving means is again automaticallyenergized so as to cause the platform means to move in acounterclockwise direction as seen in the drawings. It will beunderstood that if it is desired to move the platform means in aclockwise direction, the movement 0f the vertically movable members isreversed.

Referring now to FIG. 8, when the platform means are in the relativeposition indicated in this figure, platform means 110, 112 and 116 arein their lowered position, while platform means 114 is in its raisedposition.

Referring now to FIG. 9, when the platform means are in this relativerelationship, the flexible drive member stops automatically, and the twoplatform means 110 and 112 which are in their lowered position areraised, while the platform means 116 which is in its raised position islowered. When these platform means have reached the desiredrelationship, the driving means is again automatically started.

Referring now to FIG. l0, when the platform means are in thisrelationship, platform means 110 and 112 are raised, while platformmeans 114 and 116 are in their lowered position.

From the description of the various relative positions of the platformmeans as seen in FIGS. l, 8, 9 and 10, it is assumed that the platformmeans are moving in a counter-clockwise direction, and suitable controlmeans is'provided for causing the platform means to automatically assumethe relationships described whereby plates or trays supported by theplatform means will be at different horizontal levels when they pass oneanother, and yet these plates or trays will be disposed in loweredpositions for convenience of use by diners seated at the table atsubstantially all points along the path of movement of the platformmeans.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-15 inclusive, a further modified form of theinvention is illustrated. The vstructure shown in these figures issimilar to that shown in FIGS. 1-7 inclusive, and components which areof substantially the same construction as previously described have-been given the same reference numerals primed. It will be noted thatthe support means and the elevating means are substantially the same asthat previously described, the difference in this modied form of theinvention lying in the drive means.

The various support portions are provided with a continuous outer groove300 which is adapted to receive guide lugs extending downwardly from thebottom walls of the various platform means. As seen in FIGS. 12-14,platform means 110' is provided with an integral depending lug 304 whichfits relatively snugly yet slidably within the groove 300 to guidemovement of the platform means about the support track.

One end wall 124 of the platform means 110" has mounted on the outersurface thereof a suitable drive means such as an electric motorindicated generally by reference numeral 310, this drive means beingprovided with a suitable source of energy such as battery means or thelike as is the electric motor 180 previously described. This electricmotor 310 is suitably connected with the switch means describedhereinbefore for controlling the forward and reverse movement of theplatform means along the support means.

A drive shaft 312 is operatively connected with the electric motor, anda pair of drive wheels 314 are mounted at opposite ends of the driveshaft and supported for rotation therewith. These drive wheels may beprovided on the outer periphery thereof with rubber or other suitablematerial for providing good traction with the support means. The wheelsengage the upwardly facing surface of the various track portions so thatupon rotation of the wheels, the platform means will be moved along thesupport means.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the details of the engaging portionoperatively associated with the undersurface of each of the platformmeans are illustrated. As seen in this ligure, a typical engagingportion is indicated generally by reference numeral 320 and includes acentral Portion 322 having a hole 324 formed therethrough for receivinga screw 326 which is adapted to be threaded into the lower wall of theassociated platform means for holding the engaging portion in operativeposition at the underside of the platform means.

Depending portions 330 are provided at opposite ends of the centralportion 322 of the engaging portion, each of these depending portionshaving a notch 332 formed therein which is adapted to receive one of theelongated portions 102 of the flexible drive member 100. i

Referring to FIG. l1, the support portions are also provided with acontinuous inner groove 340, the elongated llexible drive member beingdisposed within this groove 340 throughout the length thereof.

It is apparent that the engaging portion connected with each of theplatform means is adapted to operatively engage the flexible drivemember. The platform means are spaced from one another in the samemanner as previously described. Upon actuation of the drive meanscarried by platform means the platform means andthe flexible drivemember will be moved about the support means. As the flexible drivemember is carried along by platform means 110', the remaining platformmeans which are also drivingly connected with the flexible drive memberwill similarly be moved along the platform means in the desired spacedrelationship to one another.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is threfore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as Well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Food handling apparatus comprising support means, a plurality ofplatform means mounted for movement along said support means, saidplatform means each including a vertically movable portion forsupporting plates thereon, drive means for moving said platform meansalong said support means in spaced relationship with one another,elevating means for raising and lowering the vertically movable portionof each of said platform means, said platform means each includingpivotally interconnected support portions operatively connected withsaid vertically movable portions, and said elevating means of each ofsaid platform means being connected with said pivotally interconnectedsupport portions.

2. Apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises aplurality of interconnected portions permitting longitudinal adjustmentof the support means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said support means includesportions which are hinged with respect to other portions thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotally interconnectedsupport portions have anti-friction means connected with the outer endsthereof.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means includespower-Operated means, a flexible drive member interconnected with saidpower-operated means, said flexible drive member including alternateelongated portions and enlarged portions, each of said platform meanshaving an engaging portion for engaging said exi-ble drive member.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said engaging portions eachinclude a notch therein for receiving an enlarged portion of said exibledrive member.

7. Apparatus as dened in claim 5 wherein each of said engaging portionsincludes apair of spaced depending portions for fitting over anelongated portion of said flexible drive member.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said engagingportions includes a notch for receiving an enlarged portion of theexible drive member, and a pair of depending portions disposed at eitherside of said notch for fitting over an elongated portion of saidflexible drive member.

9. Apparatus Ias dened in claim 1 wherein said drive means includespower-operated means carried by one of said platform means, and meansdrivingly interconnecting said platform means with one another.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means drivnglyinterconnecting said platform means with one another comprises aiiexible drive member, each of said platform means having an engagingportion for engaging said flexible drive member.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said support means has arecess formed therein, said exible drive member being disposed withinsaid recess 12. Apparatus as dened in claim 10 wherein said drive memberincludes alternate elongated portions and enlarged portions, saidsupport means having a recess formed therein, said drive member beingdisposed within said recess, said engaging portions on the platformmeans lextending downwardly into said recess and including spaceddepending portions for tting about an elongated portion of said drivemember.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,890 4/ 1890 Westphal 108--22505,602 9/ 1893 Jackson 108-95 519,630 5/1894 Hogg 10S-22 1,186,0856/1916 Deloatch 108-20 1,466,890 9/ 1923 Deloatch 108-20 XR 1,676,1087/1928 Novak 108-20 1,729,828 10/ 1929 Hager 10S-22 2,890,010 6/ 1959Barkheimer 10S-20 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,248,806 l l/ 1960 France.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner

